Recent Shark Bites

Rex Burkhead, RB NE

3:12pm EST 12/2/18

Burkhead active

Patriots RB Rex Burkhead (neck) is active for today’s game against the Vikings. He shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups in his 1st action since Week 3, but we’re curious to see how much work he steals from Sony Michel and James White.

Rex Burkhead, RB NE

2:11pm EST 11/8/18

Burkhead returns to practice

Patriots RB Rex Burkhead (neck) returned to practice on Thursday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Burkhead appears on track to play when 1st eligible in Week 13. He figures to be 3rd in the backfield pecking order, though, behind James White and Sony Michel. We'd leave Burkhead on the waiver wire for now outside of deep fantasy leagues.

Rex Burkhead, RB NE

12:09pm EDT 9/26/18

Burkhead heading to IR

The Patriots will place RB Rex Burkhead on IR with the neck injury he suffered in Week 3, according to the Boston Globe's Jim McBride. No word yet on Burkhead's exact injury or whether he's a candidate to return after 8 weeks. We'll look for more details, but Burkhead can be dropped outside of deep leagues and leagues with an IR spot. New England's once deep backfield has now lost Burkead and Jeremy Hill to injuries. That leaves Sony Michel as the clear lead ball-carrier and James White as the primary pass-catching back. Both guys look like weekly fantasy starters at this point.

Rex Burkhead, RB NE

7:09am EDT 9/24/18

Burkhead suffers neck injury

Patriots RB Rex Burkhead injured his neck in the 4th quarter of Sunday night's game against the Lions and did not return. He played just 7 snaps before exiting, carrying 0 times and catching 2 of 3 targets. He's fallen behind Sony Michel and James White in the backfield pecking order.

Injury Predictor

Burkhead topped his previous high for touches by just 3 in his 1st Patriots season, but he did so in 6 fewer games than he played the year before. A rib injury cost him 4 weeks in the middle of 2017, and then a knee sprain claimed the final 2 regular-season games plus New England's 1st playoff contest. Burkhead had otherwise enjoyed a clean record -- on very limited touches -- since an August 2014 MCL sprain. He re-signed with the Patriots this offseason and will fight for touches in a perennially crowded backfield. Sony Michel figures to challenge the red-zone role that accounted for all 8 of Burkhead's TDs in 2017.

Projected Missed

Probability of injury per game ?

Probablity of injury in the season ?

2.50

4.7%

54.1%

1

3

1

Date

Injury

Analysis

Sep 23, 2018

Cervical Neck

Burkhead spent 8 games on IR with a neck injury but returned in Week 13.

Aug 8, 2018

Knee Tear

Burkhead missed time in training camp with what was reported as a "slight tear" in his knee.

Dec 17, 2017

Knee Patella Sprain

Burkhead didn't return until the AFC Championship game.

Sep 17, 2017

Chest Rib Sprain/Pull Unspecified

Burkhead missed 4 games.

Aug 16, 2014

Knee MCL Sprain Grade 2

Burkhead suffered the injury in Week 2 of the preseason. He made his regular season debut in Week 6.